The highly contagious disease was found on a farm with 4,504 pigs in the provincial capital Jinan, infecting 17 of the animals and killing three hogs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement. The disease is fatal to pigs, but doesn't harm people.

China, home to the world's largest hog herd, has now reported more than 100 cases of African swine fever in 27 provinces and regions since last August.

The Shandong case came after Guangxi region in China's south reported its first African swine fever outbreak yesterday (19 February).